Black Widow (A Doc Ford Novel)

Gripping, captivating and a real page turner. Randy brings to light the vulnerablity we face when we travel out of the country. Combined with the local Sanibel Island flavor and strong character development, the often traveled outer islands come into focus in Black Widow. Good ole Doc Ford once again steps up to the plate to save his god daughter from the evil doers that lurk on these islands. Mixed with twists and turns the ending will not disappoint anyone.

This was a standard Doc Ford novel, but with pockets of greatness. Ford, in my opinion, is at his best when he gets into banter with Tomlinson, or talks about real every day life in Sanibel. I really liked the final couple pages of the book, and the beginning of the novel especially. I give it 4 stars because it's Doc Ford, and all his books are fun to read.

Doc Ford just keeps getting better! As in all of Mr. White's previous Doc Ford tales the journey & geography this time Saint Lucia in the Caribbean is so seductively protrayed the reader feels like they're sharing a holiday.....albeit a dangerous holiday. The characters are both real & surreal with the addition of a psychotic self-proclaimed Voodoo like-Priestess & a 70+ year old Brit who James Bond could only hope to aspire to in retirement. The protagnost Doc Ford is real... A real hero complete with exposed emotions wrapped into this very complex & intelligent man. The reader gets hooked into non-stop action with all benefits of author's meticulous research & humanity. Thanks Randy for another fine read!!

White writes a fast paced entertaining book. My husband is a hard man to please, but he loves the Doc Ford books. Part of the attraction is Southern Florida, but White is also a talented writer. It is difficult to keep a character alive and interesting after several books, but I think White did a great job. The lab jellyfish and shrimp were fascinating and believable enough to give me the willies. The action packed ending was more to my husband's taste than mine, but I still enjoyed it.

Not just extreme characters but absurd and it all feels mundane. I'm a fan of the series, but like with lots of series authors, sometimes the books feel as if they should have been in the incubator longer. Oh well, deadlines to be met, crank it out.

Hey, the next book IS better.

In contrast with most of the early Doc Ford scenarios which were staged in Florida, here he travels to St Lucia. And we get more information on just how Doc learned his smooth investigatory and martial skills in his earlier life. Good fun.

Another great Doc Ford mystery. Randy Wayne White's biologist is evolving or de-evolving to his old habits. Fast paced and enjoyable. I have read Black Widow twice already. Sir James and Senny are cool new characters. Can't wait for the next one!

attention grabber, Doc is in a different style & mode of operation from others I have read. confronts blackmailer who have trapped unsuspecting
guests at a island resort with compromising photos he has to retrieve.

In Black Widow, Randy Wayne White has a plot worthy of his writing talents while he avoids some of quirks that have led some to wonder if the Doc has outlived his usefulness as a hero. After fifteen books, there is some build up of back story which sometimes intrudes a bit much. White restrains himself in this one and while giving us some of the best former characters, (Tomlinson at his "guru"est zanyness and Shay Money, now grown up and escaped from her Daddy's clutches); he also introduces some sure to reappear individuals: Sir James, the semi-retired Brit Psyop spook and beautiful Beryl. The premise, a blackmailing scheme based on an exotic Carribean island, batchlorette parties, date rape drugs, handsome beach bums and hidden cameras is more than plausible. These are really bad guys and White does not need to get into a lot of mumbo-jumbo. Doc himself stresses that his profession is science and not superstition. When we do get to the voodoo island, it is clear that the manipulation of belief is at work. The novel's structure: first half set at Sanabel/Captiva environs and second on the exotic island is a familiar White pattern, allowing some Dinkin's Bay parties, whale swimming/stranding and shark threats. Doc's new semi legit job - developing marine toxin potentials for homeland security- does not quite measure up to his wilder adventures, and part of the story at Dinkin's Bay and his teaming up with Sir James have the potential for a sequal novel, but are actually a bit distracting here. There is also a bit of deja vu over again in some scenes, such as a parking lot eavesdropping.One may wonder what he is attempting with the Masonic questions, ie. "Are you a traveler." Could "The Man who Would Be King" be waiting in the wings? Also, the "Set off the alarm and the widow will go for her most valuable treasure is straight out of Sherlock Holmes. White should avoid these old chestnuts. White's biggest problem, however, the aging hero is somewhat ameliorated by the lack of headline references. Still as a poet said, "the girls are younger pinker, and more gradually out of reach." Not quite so for Doc; perhaps, the surprise romantic turn at the end of the novel may portend a more mature characterization about to show up in greater detail in the next novel. In a nod in this direction, Doc can still take care of himself, but we are not faced with the four or five on one beach bar fights, and Doc admits to being a bit out of shape. If you like White, these minor flaws are outweighed by what is his best effort in the last four novels. He has fun with technology, but doesnt get out of control. The political preaching is minimized and events move along at a decent pace. Buy this one, get a comfortable chair in the shade, pour a cold drink and enjoy.

I found this series by accident and LOVED the first book so much I have bought the entire series on audio (there are a couple of the books that are no longer available that way, so I had to break down and read a book) but Doc Ford is just the bee's knees and I love the adventures and details to life on Sanibel Island. Sanibel Island is a real place and RWW draws on his experiences as a fishing guide to write the stories. I have a friend who lives in Florida and vacations there and there is a Doc Ford Restaurant there with great seafood (so he tells me) and kind of a Doc Ford fan club. I hope and pray the stories never end.

I am addicted to these books. Good character development and storyline. I always learn something from his stories and this is no exception, although I have not investigated the theories voiced by some in this book.